It’s sad, but Middle East insurgency and turmoil are becoming an issue in Minnesota state politics.

In the Minnesota Senate race, Sen. Al Franken and Republican challenger Mike McFadden are smacking each other over who is more concerned about Minnesotans traveling to Syria and Iraq to fight and die with ISIS.

Franken has written a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, criticizing the Obama administration for not doing more to prevent Minnesotans from joining the Islamic State troops. McFadden has criticized Franken for doing nothing more than writing letters. Franken has criticized McFadden for coming late to the issue and avoiding questions about it a year ago.

It is a tragedy that young people in Minnesota are being radicalized and recruited by this deadly and despicable organization. We would hope that would be an issue all could agree on, and not be used for making political points.